Puzzles of the jigsaw type



July 6, 1965 w. R. IRWIN 3,193,294

PUZZLES OF THE JIGSAW TYPE Filed June 9. 1961 INVENTOR.

WM. R. IRWIN United States Patent O 3,13,294 PUZZLES OF THE JIGSAW TYPE William R. Irwin, RU. Box 155, Bronx, N.Y. Filed dune 9, 1961, Ser. No. 116,1636 3 Claims. Cl. 273-157) This invention relates to a game or puzzle and more particularly to a puzzle of the jigsaw type.

An object of the present invent-ion is to provide a puzzle of the character referred to which is both novel and instructive and is a departure from puzzles of this type heretofore presented.

Another object is to provide such a puzzle or game which has a plurality of possible solutions obtainable and viewable only on a single primary surface and within unchmging confining limits and which does not depend for a variety of solutions upon changing one or more pieces so that the lowermost surface of any of said pieces, becomes topmost nor, where any puzzle piece so changeable would be refittable in its original space upon being reversed with its original lowermost surface topmost. Nor where any piece is colored or bears markings for purposes of play on both surfaces.

A further object is to provide a puzzle or game of the character described wherein no two pieces or diverse groups of composite pieces may be comletely interchanged, one with the other, in order that a plurality of complete puzzle solutions may be obtained, whether by so doing a correct or an incorect solution be reached. In the present invention an object is to make impossible the direct interchange of pieces whether or not directly interchangeable pieces would allow the transposition of other pieces within the confining limits of the puzzle.

A still further object is to provide a puzzle wherein all the transposable pieces necessary to form two composite pictures within definite, unchangeable confines, must be transposed in order to form two or more comprehensible, composite pictures within said definite confines.

It is known that heretofore puzzles have been provided containing pieces of irregular shape and that said irregular pieces were directly interchangeable with other like pieces or composite combinations of pieces to form a plurality of graphic representations within definite confining limits.

It is also known that heretofore puzzles having a plurality of picture solutions or results have been provided wherein the direct exchange or interexchange of pieces causitive of the multiple picture solutions being achieved within the confining limits of the original puzzle picture was not possible, but multiple picture solutions were reached wit-inn said confining limits by changing one or more pieces so that their lowermost surfaces become topmost.

It is further known that heretofore puzzles have been provided wherein a solution was reached to form a composite picture within definite confines wherein pieces or composite pieces were directly interchangeable to form a composite picture but wherein other pieces indirectly transposable were not transposed within said confining limits; however, said directly interchangeable pieces were necessary for the formation of a composite, comprehensive picture within said confining limits in conjunction with said indirectly transposable pieces being transposed therein to effect the formation of a plurality of composite, comprehensive pictures other than the composite picture formable only by the direct inter-exchange of said interexchangeable or exactly alike pieces, even though said alike pieces were sub-divided.

it is also known that heretofore a variety of puzzles have been provided wherein multiple results within set limiting confines have been achievable due to the reliance 3,193,294 Patented July 6, 1965 placed upon pieces shaped to figures of the science of plane geometry; these include the rectangle, the square, the rhombus, the cone, the frustrumed cone and varied combinations of same.

The same geometrical figures and combinations thereoi are actually no more than extensions of the checkerboard principle wherein any square may assume four difierent positions within the same original confines and the number of positions may be multiplied by the number of squares available.

The present invention will be best understood by having reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an assembled picture puzzle embodying the present invention and showing one arrangernent of parts;

FIG. 2 is another plan view showing a second arrangement of the parts to produce another picture.

Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be noted that I have produced a picture puzzle of rectangular shape composed of a plurality of inter-fitting elements having markings thereon which produce a definite and continuous picture or design.

A, the largest piece of a group of seven, serves as the confining element into which the other six pieces are interfitted.

Besides serving .as the said confining element it will be noted that A is an intrinsic part of the overall picture.

The pieces numbered 1 to 6 are subject to change in their positions relative to each other and to the fixed element A in order to produce a modified picture or design. 1

It will be understood, of course, that any number of the parts subject to rearrangement Within the fixed element part A may be subdivided in order to make the working of the puzzle more difficult. This subdividing process may be extended to the A element part Without departing in any sense from the spirit of the invention.

In FIG. 2 the pieces 1 to 6 have been redistributed and refitted within element part A to form a different picture. The place vacated by pieces 1 and 2 is occupied by pieces 3 and 6; the place vacated by pieces 3 and 4 is occupied by pieces 1 and 5; the place vacated by pieces 5 and 6 is occupied by pieces 2 and 4-.

While the shape of pieces 1 to 6 have been drawn to a large extent with irregularity curved lines, it should be understood that the arrangement and rearrangement of the composite, comprehensive pictures shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 could as well have been drawn in a series of irregu lar straight lines or in a combination of irregular straight lines and irregular curves. The simplicity of the pieces illustrated, by their configuration, is believed to allow for an easier understanding of the invention. Typical jigsaw curves, usually applied to ordinary puzzles of this nature, have been incorporated to bring out the thesis that in the instant invention the abutment or juxtaposition of straight lines is not in any sense, required to carry out the spirit of the invention.

To further clarify the factor already mentioned of the impossibility of direct interexchange of one or more separate pieces even though one or a plurality of such pieces be subdivided an example is given. Considering pieces 1 and 2, FIG. 1, as having a contiguous relationship, the said pieces could be looked upon as being one sub-divided piece.

However, in a reorientation of the puzzle pieces 1 to 6 as in FIG. 2, pieces 1 and 2 can not be emplaced as a single composite piece in any other location within the original confining limits of the puzzle picture than the place the combined pieces 1 and 2 occupied in the picture of FIG. 1 and this would prevent reorganization of the transposable pieces to give the result shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 the said pieces 1 and 2 are dispersed to separate and apart locations within said confining limits in order to participate in and to make possible the red stribution of pieces 3, 4, and 6 within the confining limits I of A to form a second, composite, comprehensive picture, differing from the composite picture of FIG. 1 in many respects.

What has been said of pieces 1 and 2 is equally true of pieces 3, 4, 5 and 6. .In orderto accomplish the formation of a composite picture as in FIG. 2, differing from the composite, comprehensive picture of FIG. 1, it is necessary to remove from its location in PEG. 1 each'and every piece, 1, 2,3, 4, 5 and 6 and to reemplacethe pieces as shown in FIG. 2, the confining limits formed by A remaining the same in both composite pictures. Of course the positions of the numerous transposable pieces may be varied indefinitely in number and location throughout other pictures, the. above-described pictures of FIGS. 1 and 2 serving only to illustrate the principles g of the invention. Likewise the numbers of transposable pieces may be varied to meet the requirements of pictures selected for a variety of composite variations.

Simplifying the concept, it could be stated that consideringthe puzzle as a whole with a number of 'transposa'ole parts, that with said transposable parts fitting into a nontransposable partras A, FIGS. 1 and 2, that any transposable part could only take part in the formation of a plurality of composite pictures as illustrated whereby no part is directly interchangeable with another part or group a of parts and the same surface is exposed upwardly to the view and within the same definite confines.

If desired, an entirely different picture could be used on a the underside. of the fiat'exposed surface illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in order toprovide two puzzle units each with its own plurality of solutions. It would be advis- V able in such case to select pictures for the upper surface of the picture that would differ in markedly color, design or in various other Ways from the picture aifixed to the opposite fiat surface so that the player would not become confused as to just which side of the various pieces he must use in order to emplace the pieces properly for the picture'puzzle he might be Working.

Also, the definite confines of the composite puzzle might be formed in various shapes without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

While I have described and illustrated one embodiment a of my invention it should be understood that I do not wish to be limited to same but contemplate ratherall variations coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 3

1. A game or puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces assembled within a definite confine, a group of pieces of said plurality transposable within said confine, each single member of said group or a member composed of subdivided members of said group combinable with another member or members of said group at only one locus 4, V shaped that when transposed in a correlated second completed arrangement within said definite confine to form with the remainder ofrthe plurality of pieces a different continuous surface, said markings combine to form a second comprehensive picture, and with all upwardly disposed surfaces of said group correlated in said first arrangement remaining upwardly disposed in said second completed arrangement. V

2. A game or puzzle comprising a plurality of pieces assembled within a definite confine, a group of transposable pieces of said plurality, each piece of said plurality having markings disposed thereon in such'ma'nner that when all said pieces of said group are correlated in a first completed arrangement Within said definite confine to form with the remainder'of the plurality of pieces a first continuous surface, said markings combine to form a first comprehensive pictureyeach piece of said group differing in'size and configuration from each other piece of said group in said first arrangrnenh each single piece of said group difiering in size and configuration fromany subgroup of combined pieces of said group in said first arrangement, each piece of said group being transposable to a different location within said definite confine removed from'its location in said first comprehensive picture, said pieces of said group being shaped that when so transposed in a second correlated arrangement Within said definite confine to form with the remainder of the plurality of pieces a different continuous surface, said markings cornbine to form a second, diiferent comprehensive picture, and with all upwardly disposed surfaces of said plurality and said group correlated in said first arrangementre 'maining upwardly disposed in said second arrangement.

'3. A garne or puzzle comprising aplurality of pieces fittable within a definite confine, a group of transposable pieces of said plurality, each piece of said group bearing marks in such manner that when said pieces of said group are correlated within said definite confine in a first comwithin said definite confine, said members of said plural ity having markings disposed thereon in such manner that when said pieces of said group are correlated in a first completed arrangement within said definite confine to form with the remainder of the plurality of pieces a continuous surface, said markings combine to form a first comprehensive picture, said pieces of said group being so pleted arrangement to form with the remainder of the plurality of pieces a first continuous surface,a firstcom prehensive' design is formed, each piece of said group differing in size and configuration from each other piece of said group insaid first arrangement, each piece of said group differing in size and configuration from any subgroup of combined pieces of said group in said first arrangement, each pieceof said group being transposable to a different location within said definite confine removed from iits location in said first completed arrangement, said pieces of said group being so shaped that when transposed to be correlated within said definite confine in a second completed arrangement to form with the remainder of the plurality of pieces a second continuous surface, a second comprehensive design is formed, and with all upwardly disposed surfaces of said plurality and said group correlated in said first arrangement remaining upwardly disposed in said second arangement.

' References Qited by the Examiner UNITED srArEs PATENTS 2,037,966 4/36 .Dailey 273-l57 2,3S3,037- 7/44 Irwin 273--l5 7 

1. A GAME OR PUZZLE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PIECES ASSEMBLED WITHIN A DEFINITE CONFINE, A GROUP OF PIECES OF SAID PLURALITY TRANSPOSABLE WITHIN SAID CONFINE, EACH SINGLE MEMBER OF SAID GROUP OR A MEMBER COMPOSED OF SUBDIVIDED MEMBERS OF SAID GROUP COMBINATE WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF SAID GROUP AT ONLY ONE LOCUS WITHIN SAID DEFINITE CONFINE, SAID MEMBERS OF SAID PLURALITY HAVING MARKINGS DISPOSED THREON IN SUCH MANNER THAT WHEN SAID PIECES OF SAID GROUP ARE CORRELATED IN A FIRST COMPLETE ARRANGEMENT WITHIN SAID DEFINITE CONFINE TO FORM WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE PLURALITY OF PIECES A CONTINUOUS SURFACE, SAID MARKINGS COMBINE TO FORM A FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE, SAID PIECES OF SAID GROUP BEING SO SHAPED THAT WHEN TRANSPOSED IN A CORRELATED SECOND COMPLETED ARRANGEMENT WITHIN SAID DEFINITE CONFINE TO FORM WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE PLURALITY OF PIECES A DIFFERENT CONTINUOUS SURFACE, SAID MARKINGS COMBINE TO FORM A SECOND COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE, AND WITH ALL UPWARDLY DISPOSED SURFACES OF SAID GROUP CORRELATED IN SAID FIRST ARRANGEMENT REMAINING UPWARDLY DISPOSED IN SAID SECOND COMPLETED ARRANGEMENT. 